American journal of physiology. Renal physiology
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Am. J. Physiol. Renal Physiol. · Sep 2014
Leishmania infantum-chagasi activates SHP-1 and reduces NFAT5/TonEBP activity in the mouse kidney inner medulla.
Visceral leishmaniasis patients have been reported to have a urine concentration defect. Concentration of urine by the renal inner medulla is essentially dependent on a transcription factor, NFAT5/TonEBP, because it activates expression of osmoprotective genes betaine/glycine transporter 1 (BGT1) and sodium/myo-inositol transporter (SMIT), and water channel aquaporin-2, all of which are imperative for concentrating urine. Leishmania parasites evade macrophage immune defenses by activating protein tyrosine phosphatases, among which SHP-1 is critical. ⋯ The culture supernatant from L. chagasi metacyclic promastigotes increases SHP-1 protein abundance and potently inhibits NFAT5 transcriptional activity in mIMCD3 cells. However, L. chagasi in our animal model has no significant effect on urinary concentration. We conclude that L. chagasi, most likely through its secreted virulence factors, activates SHP-1 and reduces NFAT5/TonEBP gene expression, which leads to reduced NFAT5/TonEBP transcriptional activity in the kidney inner medulla.